Samantha Millican, Product Manager for Geberit Frames and Installation Systems, looks at what installers can do to create a space-saving, design-led bathroom.
The average size of the UK home is shrinking, leaving installers with a growing challenge of coming up with practical, affordable and stylish bathroom solutions. According to Which?, in fact, British homes are now typically 20 per cent smaller than in the 1970s, with houses built in the last decade now averaging 67.8 square metres of living space. To put this figure in some context, the size of both decks of a London bus is 55 square metres. Our homes are now smaller than ever.
Meanwhile, space notwithstanding, the habits of homeowners are changing. A study by Hootsuite found that 83 per cent of Instagram users say they actively use the platform to discover brands and products when planning an interiors project. The shift, therefore, towards ‘Instagrammable’ bathrooms is becoming increasingly prevalent.
Now let’s look at the significance of the bathroom in our homes. Geberit carried out research in 2018 which told us that the bathroom was, in fact, the most important place for sanctuary in the home – and, of course, the significance of having such a sanctuary in the home will have been keenly felt by many of us over the last 12 months.
So, it must come as no surprise that many installers must face a growing challenge: coming up with a stylish bathroom, one that offers this escape for homeowners – yet one that overcomes this challenge of space. So, what can you do to design a bathroom that ticks all the boxes for your customers?
The wall-hung way
When it comes to designing a bathroom where space is at a premium, the most effective solution is to opt for wall-mounted furniture and ceramics which create the illusion of ‘floating’ above the floor. Offering a space-saving alternative to traditional close coupled toilets, wall-hung toilets can open up the bathroom space whilst offering a sleek, streamlined design.
By concealing the cistern behind a stud wall, a wall-hung toilet reduces the outward projection of the furniture. And, where space is paramount, opting for wall-hung ceramics can make a real difference – the ability to conceal the cistern and lift the toilet’s footprint off the floor can make even the smallest of bathrooms instantly appear bigger. Opting for wall-hung ceramics can also enable toilets to be easily installed in those tricky spots on a project, such as under a window, in a narrow wall duct or under a sloping ceiling.
Ease of installation
Installers may have previously associated these systems with difficult installation processes. However, product development from leading manufacturers such as Geberit now means that quick and affordable pre-wall frame systems, such as Duofix, have been designed with ease of installation in mind. These systems make concealing the cistern inside a drywall quick and neat by eliminating the need for additional, carefully positioned studding.
Design-led
Wall-hung furniture can offer you the opportunity to upsell finishing touches to a project with the option of adding stylish flush plate finishes such as textured rustic wood or slate designs to shades that blend harmoniously into the desired colour scheme. Best in class prewall frame systems, like Geberit Duofix, can also offer homeowners a variety of location choices, including remote actuated flush buttons which enable the flush to be located away from the cistern.
Yet, if wall-hung isn’t possible for the task at hand, do consider the importance of saving even a few centimetres in such a small space. Geberit’s Selnova Compact series, for instance, offers solutions for small bathrooms, such as short projection toilets and smaller-depth basins. Considering storage solutions, too, can reduce unnecessary clutter in the room – vanity units or mirror cabinets are smart solutions to make the most of the space.
For more information on Geberit Frames and Installation Systems visit www.geberit.co.uk
With rising development costs and continued challenges for the construction sector, it has never been more important to make the right choices in materials selection, according to a new white paper from Geberit.
‘Multi-Layer Pipework – The Perfect All-Rounder’ from Geberit examines the materials selection process for supply piping systems. It highlights the benefits of multi-layer pipework, an increasingly popular alternative to copper and flexible plastic piping for hot and cold potable water systems.
Antony Corbett, product manager for piping systems at Geberit, said: “Multi-layer pipework is not a new technology – the first multi-layer composite pipes were introduced to the UK market over 40 years ago – but it has often been reserved for non-domestic applications. Now, with greater discussion over materials selection and increased awareness of the benefits, multi-layer is proving to be an effective all-rounder which can overcome many of the challenges identified throughout specification and installation.
“It is flexible to use, easy to install, leak-proof and has enhanced strength over purely plastic piping. More than that, multi-layer piping doesn’t contribute to corrosion and is hygienic, with reduced thermal expansion and no oxygen diffusion. It is the perfect solution for a wide range of uses, addressing typical challenges whilst offering tangible cost, installation and performance benefits for contractors.”
Download the white paper by visiting www.geberit.co.uk/mepla
